P R E S S

The fractional yacht and electric boat rental industry leader in Chicago and Florida, Vantage Yacht Club, announces discounts and special privileges for customers who complete online boater safety courses. In addition, VYC will offer a Valet Captain service to prevent boating under the influence and help inexperienced boaters dock in high winds.

Vantage Yacht Club (VYC), the premier yachting club offering yacht management, charter and rental programs and creator of the “Yacht Card,” a timeshare program for yachting enthusiasts, today announced new programs and services for its customers that increase boater safety and enhance VYC’s First-Class Experience. “Vantage Yacht Club’s number one priority is to protect the personal safety of our members, their guests and our neighbors on the water,” said Vantage Yacht Club Founder and President Jason De Palma, “My obsession with safety was developed when training as a pilot and it is the foundation of our organization.” Vantage Yacht Club’s commitment to safety begins with required member participation in training programs such as VYC’s On-Helm boat operation courses as well as online safety and regulatory boater licensing through State approved courses and exams.

Vantage Yacht Club, the premier fractional club offering shared yacht ownership and creator of the Yacht Card, announced additions to its Fleet Membership and Non-Member rental fleets today with the delivery of four electric Duffy Boats. Vantage Yacht Club is proud to announce this first electric boat initiative in Chicago as it continues to lead the evolution of the yachting lifestyle. Electric boaters will cruise the Chicago River taking in the sights and sounds of the city while promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability. These zero-emission electric boats are available to rent by-the-hour beginning April 1, 2012 from 8:00 am until midnight, seven days a week. The boats are enclosed with an overhead canopy and removable windows and will be rented throughout all four seasons. The boats are easy to operate by boaters who have no boating experience.

While promoting environmental conscientiousness, yet still encouraging the adventurous spirit keen to Chicago and its guests," said Jason De Palma, Vantage Yacht Club Founder and President, "the electric boat manufacturers and Vantage Yacht Club will work together to create the level of awareness necessary to change the way we all view and treat the Chicago River." Vantage believes that its thousands of satisfied customers will not only begin to appreciate the Chicago River even more, but will directly join the effort to attract Chicago's decision makers to intensify River cleansing and vitalization programs. By adding hundreds of electric boats to its fleet over time, Vantage expects a sparkling Chicago River for all eventually to enjoy.

Thanks to the electric Duffy Boat launch, Vantage Yacht Club has created jobs. A newly hired team will spearhead reservations, provisioning, training, cleaning and customer service to create an unforgettable experience for Vantage electric boaters.

Vantage Yacht Club, the premier fractional club offering shared yacht ownership and creator of the Yacht Card, announced an addition to their fractional fleet today with the order of a new 2012 Sunseeker Portofino 48 from Great Lakes Sunseeker dealer Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales. “We are excited to introduce our members to one of the most sought after yachts in the world,” said Jason De Palma, President of Vantage Yacht Club, “Vantage has charted a course to deliver the best-of-the-best and the Portofino 48 is positioned at the pinnacle of its class.”

To be christened “Game Changer,” the Portofino 48 is being offered in the Vantage Yacht Shares program and features a rich deep blue hull, fifty-three feet in overall length, joystick controlled Volvo IPS pod drives, retractable carbon fiber hardtop, lifting swim platform, teak cockpit with extended seating configuration, high-gloss cherry wood cabin and a full-beam owner’s suite with vast windows on both port and starboard sides. Including virtually every available factory option, her cost to construct and transport from the Sunseeker factory in England is nearly $1.4 million.

Sunseeker is known to hand build a limited number of yachts each year. With only thirty-five Portofino 48 models scheduled for production in 2012 and a full order book, “Game Changer” will be a rare and distinctive complement to the yachting community in Chicago.

On this opening day of the 2011 Chicago boating season, Vantage Yacht Club, the first-of-its-kind private membership club offering fractional yacht ownership, today announced its official launch. Vantage Yacht Club has revolutionized the marine industry with the Vantage Yacht Card and Vantage Yacht Shares programs. These programs grant Vantage Members access to an exquisite collection of yachts without the large capital outlay and multitude of expenditures that whole yacht ownership requires. The ultimate benefit Vantage provides its Members is a turn-key yacht management solution that frees Members from all of the responsibilities and concerns of yacht ownership.

Vantage Yacht Club has revolutionized the marine industry with the introduction of their Vantage Yacht Card and Vantage Yacht Shares programs. Free from the capital outlay and expenditure that traditional ownership requires, these offerings grant its Members access to an exquisite collection of yachts and a spectacular lifestyle. Vantage has teamed up with Skipper Bud's, the largest Sea Ray dealer in the Midwest Great Lakes Region.